The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing

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Strategic Advisory Council Co-Chair; Founder and President Emeritus of URI; Former Episcopal Bishop of California

[email protected]

San Mateo, CA USA

Faith Community: Christian; Episcopalian 

Bishop William E. Swing is the Founder and President Emeritus of URI. As the 7th Episcopal Bishop of California (1980‑2006), he led significant engagement in homeless and immigrant ministries, HIV/AIDS response, and inter‑religious outreach in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1993, at the invitation of the United Nations, he convened an inter‑faith service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the UN Charter—an event that catalyzed the formation of URI.

In his role on the SAC, Bishop Swing offers a visionary anchor for URI’s values of inclusive spirituality, inter‑faith dialogue and peacebuilding. His global network, deep experience in faith‑community leadership and institutional founding provide wise counsel for scaling daily inter‑religious collaboration, ending religion‑related violence and strengthening cultures of justice, healing and ecological stewardship.

URI Stories of Impact

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My One Hour with Pope Shenouda III

Middle East and North Africa
Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

Sixteen years ago today, March 20, I met the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Shenouda, III, in Cairo.  March 20, 1996 as an eventful day for me starting with the news of the death of the Sheikh of al-Azhar. Then I arrived early for another meeting, this one with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr. Muhammed Tantawi.  When we were talking, the telephone rang and it was President Hosni Mubarrak who summoned him for an immediate meeting.   (Tantawi was soon after selected as the Sheikh of al-Azhar.)  As we finished our chat, Tantawi said, "when the light of one religion burns, it is a great blessing.  When the lights of  many religions burn together, it will be radiant and bring abundant blessings."  He counseled that the vision of a United Religions would be for the good of the world if it were "gently presented."

Stopping the Islamization of Europe?

Europe
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation
Policy Advocacy
Indigenous Peoples

In the 17th century, the logical conclusion to interreligious conflict was holy war. A handful of extremists would argue for that conclusion today. But for most of us, violence in the name of God, any God, is not an answer, it is a blasphemy. But if the point is not to take up arms in the cause of exclusive righteousness, then what can people do to cope with the very real changes happening in their communities?

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Lessons from Asia Minor

Europe
Environment

I couldn’t resist. URI’s newest Cooperation Circle resides in Siberia. And here are its members forming a circle. Striking, isn’t it? How did we ever go from a dream to Siberia? I..